Passport Cards: Required For Land or Sea Travel

Recently, the USA TODAY reported that more and more travelers have started to apply for passport cards. These cards will cost less then the typical passport and it will be small enough to fit into one's wallet. The government has stated that about 350,000 people have already applied for a passport card and are anticipating that the number of applicants could reach up to 4 million by June 2009. 

These new passport cards will only be valid for U.S. residents who plan to travel by land or by sea and are traveling to and from Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean. If planning on traveling by air, one needs to use the traditional passport. 

The State Department suggests not waiting till the last minute to apply for your passport card or traditional passport. The processing time takes about four weeks, at which point the passport will be mailed to you. The cost of the passport card is: $45 for adults, $35 for minors. The renewal time is: 10 years for adults, and five years for those who are under 18. 

For more information visit: the U.S. Department of State